1. Direct Current (DC) Data Center
Reino Buchmüller, Head of Low Voltage Systems, Helsinki, August 31, 2011
Direct Current (DC) Data Center
The game changer

2. Data center power supply DC versus AC – the concept “Grid-to-Chip”
Utility
UPS
PDU
AC-Server
13.8 kV AC
AC/DC
e.g. 750 V DC
Transformer
480 V AC
208/120 V AC
DC/DC VR
CPU
Batteries
MV rectifier package
V DC
DC-Server
© ABB 2010
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3. Why DC Data Center? Better energy efficiency, cost savings
Higher energy efficiency by up to 25%
Increase in transmission and conversion efficiencies / fewer conversions, less heat generation
10% energy savings on electrical distribution system1, plus 15% in IT room2
Reduced floor space up to 30%
Less power & cooling equipment
2,700 sq ft saved on a fully redundant (1MW) solution, representing ~20%
Reduced installation and maintenance cost of up to 30%
Less equipment, simplified wiring
30% less installation cost than AC fewer components = less maintenance needs4
Increased reliability and availability
Less conversion stages less equipment
Uninterruptable Power Supply UPS -related issues most often cited for data centre failures3
1 ABB analysis 2 Duke Energy analysis 3 Emerson Network Power 4 Syracuse University
© ABB 2010
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4. Direct current DC renewable energy options Simple, reliable, fast and modular integration
Energy Integration
Easily integrate renewables (photovoltaic, fuel cells, wind), storage (batteries) and DC consumers = DC micro grid
No synchronization required to connect multiple sources
© ABB 2010
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5. Direct Current DC data center showcase green
Direct Current DC data center showcase green.ch data center Switzerland
Green.ch’s most modern data center in north-central Switzerland
Tier level III standard UPtime
10‘000 m2 / 30 megawatt facility divided into three modules
Offering secure storage and data management capabilities
ABB is installing a fully redundant 1 megawatt DC power solution inside the first, operational module A, operational Q1 2012
Designed and engineered to green.ch’s stringent ecological standards by Validus DC Systems, an ABB company
green.ch DC data center is ABB’s demonstration site for its new DC technology
A showcase for international data center customers seeking to profit from this groundbreaking DC technology
© ABB 2010
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6. Direct current data center showcase green.ch data center Switzerland

7. The future of data centers
DC Technology will make strong progress, AC technology to be used where appropriate
AC is technology of choice whenever heat can be re-used or in cold locations like Northern Europe
For most locations, DC data center technology is more energy efficient and cost saving
DC will be a „game changer“ for data centers to reach better energy efficiency levels
© ABB 2010
Chart 6